Blogs battle over Mich. right-to-work

Bloggers from both sides of the political spectrum clashed over a sweeping right-to-work measure in Michigan, which has sparked heated debate as President Barack Obama arrives in the state Monday.

“[The] legislation … is really more far reaching than the legislation Walker signed in Wisconsin or anything that’s been discussed in Ohio,” summarized Matt Yglesias in a post at Slate.com. “In political terms this really does seem like the tipping point… .[if] right-to-work can pass in Michigan, then why shouldn’t Republicans press for it in Wisconsin or Ohio or Pennsylvania?” he added.

The measure, which would prohibit mandatory union membership dues for workers in many sectors, passed the Michigan state legislature last week, and could be signed by Gov. Rick Snyder as early as Tuesday after final passage from the legislative body. On Monday, the GOP governor met with Michigan congressional Democrats, who oppose the legislation.

“They strongly urged the governor to veto the so-called ‘right to work’ bill, or at a minimum ask the legislature to delay the vote on it,” a statement from the Democrats said. “The labor-management environment has dramatically improved in recent years in Michigan. Fracturing that growing unity and creating a contentious labor-management environment will not help attract companies to come to Michigan.”

“Some of these lawmakers were involved in the passing of historic and bipartisan pro-union legislation decades ago, and it is hoped that their seniority will help persuade Snyder that the last thing Michigan needs is a battle as divisive as the one that tore Wisconsin apart for months,” wrote Greg Sargent of the Washington Post’s liberal blog “The Plum Line.” “Opponents of the initiative argue that Republicans are breaking with the state’s long-held bipartisan consensus holding that unions play a key role in providing a path to the middle class.”

Separately, Snyder is slated to meet Obama on the tarmac in Michigan, according to news reports. The president, who is opposed to right-to-work measures, could address the subject on Monday.

“The measure, which will unravel unions in Michigan and likely lead to wage and benefit cuts down the road, has been long sought by powerful corporate interests and a small group of politically active billionaires,” charged Lee Fang of the Nation.

In a piece titled “This is not Wisconsin. This is worse,” Rich Yeselson wrote at the American Prospect that a right-to-work measure in Michigan sets a dangerous precedent for the rest of the country. “[If] Michigan can become a right to work state within a few days, pretty much any state can with a change in government,” Yeselson wrote. “A specious argument extolling American individualism is camouflaging a power and money grab by the usual suspects.”